Type-writing machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet L.

' B. 'G. S-TIGKNEY.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 576,288. Patented Feb. 2, 1897.

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TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 2; 1897.

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(No Model.)

'B, 01 STIOKNEY. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Feb.; 2; 1897.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURNHAM O. STIGKNEY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,288, dated February 2, 1897..

Original application filed Fehruary 1'7, 1893, Serial No. 462,689. Divided and this application filed February 26, 1896. Serial No. 530,845. (No model.)

T0 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BURNHAM O. SrIoKNEY, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-W'riting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of type writing machines made the subject of an application filed by me February 17, 1893, Serial No. 462,689, and is a division thereof.

It consists in the features of construction hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a type-writ- 111g machine embodying my present improvements, showing two key-levers and their associated sublevers,connecting-rods, and typebars, one set of which illustrates the position of the parts of the tripping movement and the other set of which shows the parts in their normal conditions or positions of rest. Fig. 2 is a similar skeleton view showing the parts in different positions, one type movement only, however, being illustrated. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken at the line X X of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, but omitting the several springs shown at Fig. 1.

In the several views the same parts will be found designated by the same numerals of reference.

1 designates the framework of the machine; 2, the top plate or type-ring; 3, the type-bars 4, the connecting-rods, and 5 the usual powerdriven paper-carriage. The paper-carriage is provided with a feed-rack 6, with which cooperates a spacing-dog 7 and a detainingdog 8, mounted upon a trunnion or rocker 9, held by a bracket 10 and actuated by a link 11, connected at its lower end to an arm 12, secured to a transverse rock-shaft 13, mounted in the base of the machine at 14 and provided on each side with forwardly-extending arms 15, the front ends of which are united by a. universal bar 16, extending transversely of the machine parallel with said rock-shaft 13 and arranged beneath a series of levers 17,

pivoted at their forward ends to a transverse fulcrum-rod 18 and having a uniform motion. The connecting-rods 4111011116 inwardly and their lower ends terminate in a straight line transversely of the machine and are pivoted at 19 tothe free rearwardly-projecting ends of the levers 17.

The escapement or spacing mechanism may be of any usual or suitable construction. A spring 20, mounted on a crossbar on the framework and bearing on the lever 12, is provided to return the universal bar and the spacing mechanism to normal position after releasement, as will presently appear.

Above the levers 17 are arranged key-levers 21, pivoted at their rear ends to a transverse fulcrum-rod 22, provided at their forward ends with keys 23 and bearing between their ends pivoted trips 24. Springs 25 are provided to return the key-levers to normal position upon being relieved from finger-pressure.

The trip 2% is pivoted to the keylever at a point 26 in front of the center of the machine (considered transversely) and is provided with a horizontal contact-arm 27. The keylever 21 is provided with a lateral pin 28, against which the trip normally bears by reason of the spring 29, fixed to the key-lever and bearing at its front end against the vertical portion of the trip below its pivot. The lower end of the trip is arranged to bear upon a projection 30, extending upwardly from the type-bar-operating lever 17 at a point at about the middle of its length, and to actuate and release the said lever and its connected type-bar and the universal bar. Pads or cushioned stops 131 are provided beneath the key-levers to arrest their descending motion after releasement of the type-bars,whereby the operator is permitted to impart energy to the type-bar during nearly the entire key stroke, as well as the printing stroke of the type-bar, thus giving practically the full benefit secured by the ordinary unbroken connection between the key and the type-bar without in the least detracting from the full benefits of the trip construction. In. other words, in addition to retaining all of the desirable features of the ordinary construction a trip construction is provided in which at the end of the printing stroke, but before the actual contact of the type with the platen, the connection between the type-bar and the key is automatically broken, unconsciously to the operator, and the type-bar is enabled to deliver a full-strength blow, while the finger-key is .received by the cushion or pad, which operates to gradually absorb the blow or stroke and relieve the finger of shock or jar.

In operation when a key-lever 21 is depressed the trip 2r bears down upon the projection 30 of the lever 17, depressing it and carrying down its associated connecting-rod 4, vibrating the type-bar 3 toward the platen. During its depression the lever 17 forces down the universal bar 16, depressing the arms 15, rocking the shaft 13, vibrating the arm 12 upwardly, and, through the link 11, actuating the feed mechanism. Through the feed mechanism described or any other suitable feed mechanism the carriage is fed the necessary letter-space distances as the impressions are made. During the actuation of the finger-key the lever 17 and its associated type-bar, together with the universal bar 16 and the feed mechanism, are released from the control of the key-lever and returned to their normal positions independently and in advance of said key-lever, all as will now be more specifically described.

The key-lever, the trip, the lever 17, and the universal bar descend in unison until the arm 27 of the trip comes into contact with the universal tripping-bar 32, which is fixedly arranged horizontally and transversely of the machine beneath the series of arms 27. This contact of the trip-arm 27 with the bar 32 occurs just before the parts have reached the position shown at Fig. 1. The contact of the arm 27 with the bar 32 of course arrests the descent of the free end of the arm, and owing to the continued descent of the key-lever the trip 24, although continuing to operate the lever 17 is swung rearwardly about its pivot against the pressure of the spring 2.

WV hen the type-bar has practically reached its printing position, but prior to actual contact between the type and the platen, as shown at Fig. 1, the trip 2411818 been caused to swing so far rearwardly as to be disconnected from the lever 17, as is clearly shown at Fig. 1. Thereafter, however, all of the parts continue to move in the same directions, as indicated by the various arrows, the key-lever continues its descent, causing the trip to swing rearwardly beyond the tripping-point in order to insure the unobstructed return of the typebar and lever 17 without any liability of the projection 30 reengaging with the lower end of the trip 24, and the type-bar at this time continues to the platen to leave the impression, whereupon the various parts will be in the positions shown by the dotted lines at Fig. 2'. Thereupon the type-bar will rebound from the platen and, together with its associated connecting-rod 4 and lever 17 assisted by the slight upward pressure of spring 33 upon the lever 17, will resume its initial position, as shown in full lines at Fig. 2, the universal bar and feed mechanism also resuming their initial full-line position under the influence of spring 20, and the key-lever 21 and trip 24 remaining in the dotted-line positions. Other key-levers 21 may now be operated while the first-operated key-lever remains in its depressed position, to operate and release their associated type-bars and connections, the universal bar and spacing -mechanism always resuming their initial positions simultaneously with the return to normal position of the lever 17, by which it was actuated.

Upon relieving the key-lever 21 from pressure it resumes its initial position under the return-pressure of spring 25, during which motion the trip 24 rides along the rear edge of the projection 30 on the lever 17, under pressure of the spring 29, and upon rising above said projection 30 the trip vibrates forwardly independently under pressure of said spring 29 and resumes its initial position just over said projection, as shown in full lines at Fig. 2.

It will be seen from the above that during the major part of the downstroke of the finger-key the type-bar is impelled toward the platen and then positively released, and that during the final portion of the downstroke of the finger-key the type-bar continues its movement toward the platen by inertia, and at the same time the trip is carried to a point of safety and is maintained in this position by the pressure upon the finger-key.

I have shown my invention embodied herein in only one form of machine. As it will be understood that it may be employed in machines of other detail construction I do not wish to be limited to the particular form or construction of machine shown and described. The gist of myinvention may be said to reside in combining with a type-bar and its actuating'key, whether of lever or other form, a tripping means which acts to positively release the type-bar in its printing stroke when the type has practically reached the platen or has arrived in the immediate vicinity of the paper on the platen, but before the type actually touches, and before the termination of the descending movement of the finger-key.

By this combination, arrangement, or organism, which it will be understood may be variously carried out, many important advantages and results are obtained. Primarily I am enabled to secure a type-bar movement or action in which not only all the advantages sought to be derived by a trip-machine are present, but one in which the type-bar is free to strike the paper on the platen and rebound instanter without the slightest resistance from any cause whatsoever and quite as freely as a rubber ball would rebound if thrown smartly against a wall or against the ground.

What I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-bar, a finger-key operatively connected thereto, and an intermediate trip for moving the type-bar toward the platen during the depression of the key, the trip being also forced to release the type-bar from the key by and during the said depression of the latter, whereby the type-bar is not only impelled toward the platen but is positively released from its key before the key finishes its downstroke and before the type strikes the paper, substantially as set forth.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-bar, a finger-key, a stop for arresting said key, and a trip operated by and during the depression of the finger-key for releasing the type bar from the finger key when the former is in proximity to the platen but prior to actual contact of the type with the paper on the platen, the construction and arrangement being such that after such release and prior to the contact of the fingerkey with its stop the trip is carried beyond the releasing or escaping point, substantially as set forth.

3. In a type-writin g machine, the combinafinger-key to move and also release the typebar from the finger-key when the former is in proximity to the platen but prior to actual contact of the type with the paper on the platen, substantially as set forth.

4- In a type-writing machine, the combina tion'of a type-bar, a finger-key operatively connected thereto, and a trip under the control of the finger-key and adapted to release the type-bar before the type strikes the paper on the platen, and adapted to be held in its tripped or abnormal position by the pressure on the finger'key, whereby the trip is positively held out of operative relation to the type-bar, in order that the latter may return to its normal position without liability of obstruction or interference by said trip, substantially as set forth.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-bar, a key and a tripping mechanism, wherein the type-bar is positively dis connected from the finger-key by, during and under the finger-pressure on said key, before the type strikes the paper and before the key finishes its downward stroke, and wherein during the terminal portion of the key stroke the type makes its impression by inertia and the parts which coact in the tripping operation are by such terminal movement of the finger-key positively carried to a position of safety, that is to say, one in which the engaging and reengaging parts of the tripping contrivance are prevented from rengagement or reunion before the type-bar has returned to its normal position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a type-writing machine, a paper-carriage, a feed mechanism therefor including a universal bar, atype-bar, a finger-key for operating the universal bar and the type-bar, and a trip arranged to release the universal bar and the type-bar simultaneously from the finger-key when the type-bar is in proximity to the platen but prior to actual contact of the type with the paper on the platen, sub stantially as set forth.

7 In a type-writing machine, the combination of a key, a type-bar, means for releasing the type-bar from the key when the type-bar is in proximity to the platen but prior to the actual contact of the type with the paper on the platen, and a cushion for arresting the descent of the key after the release of the type-bar, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 25th day of February, A. D. 1896.

BURNI-IAM C. STIOKNEY.

lVitnesses:

JAcoB FELBEL, K. V. DONOVAN. 

